Handle



Aug. 2, 1966 C- 5- HLBERG 3263267 HANDLE Filed April 24. 1964 I v llllllllllllfl-lllllllllll IIIIIIIIII United States Patent O 3,263,267 HANDLE Carl S. Ahlberg, Minneapolis, Minn., assignor to alm- Harley Corporation, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Filed Apr. 24, 1964, Ser. No. 362,304 Claims. (Cl. 16-114) This invention relates to improvements in portable articles of manufacture and more particularly to portable articles of manufacture wherein the article is manually transportable and is associated With one or more decorative removable handles.

Removable handles have heretofore been proposed for use With various culinary articles :and the like, but the handles have suffered from one or more significant drawbacks. There have been several removable handles proposed for portable articles in which a mechanical system is employed to grip the handle to the article, Actuation of the mechanism selectively effects attachment or removal of the handle to the article. Such mechanisms sutfer from contamination in use, relatively low reliability, and Unattractive appearance. Other handles have been suggested in the prior art which are molded integrally of plastic materials with deformations designed to engage the article to be supported. However, such integrally molded plastic handles generally fail to grip the article tenaciously, suifer fatigue and distortion in use, and are generally less aesthetic than desired.

It is, therefore, one principal object of this invention to provide an improved system for the selective attachment and removal of handles from portable articles.

It is another object of this invention to provide a simple, funitary removable handle for culinary articles or the like in which the handle tenaciously engages the article when properly positioned without the use of auxiliary mechanisms or the like.

It is still a further object of this invention to provide an improved removable handle and associated portable .article which is capable of withstanding normal household use including exposure to soaps, detergents, grease, Water, acids, and heat.

Another object of this invention is the provision of aesthetic removable handles which may be formed of any desired, relatively rigid material and particularly natural Wood or other wood materials.

Another object of this invention is the provision of portable articles with removable handles which are versatile in their applications including use as ovenware, serving dishes, covers, trays, bowls, pitchers, and vessels of all types.

Further and additional objects of this invention will become manifest from a consideration of this description, the accompanying drawing, and the appended claims.

In one form of this invention, a removable handle and associated portable article are provided wherein the peripheral portion of the associated article is formed with slight protuberances adapted to resiliently but positively engage an associated portion of the removable handle. The handle is preferably formed of an attractive, naturally occurring material such as walnut or teakwood, although it may be formed of any desired natural or synthetic product. Wood materials, either natural, synthetic, or reconstituted are preferred because of their appearance and physical characteristics. Any material possessing such physical characteristics shall be deemed a Wood material as that term is used herein.

The removable handle is provided With recesses or cavites into which are inserted plugs of resilient homogeneous plastic material. A slot is formed in the handle at least partially traversing the plugs so that the periphice eral portion of the article may be inserted in the slot and the protuberant portions placed in positive engagement With the plugs.

For a more complete understanding of this invention, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawing, wherein:

FIGURE l is a perspective view of one embodiment of this invention with the portable article partially broken away;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 taken along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an alternate construction of the removable handle forming an important part of this invention;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the embodiment of FIG. 3 taken along the line 4-4 thereof; and

FIG. 5 is a side view of the removable handle as eX- emplified in either FIG. l or FIG. 3.

Referring now to the drawing and more particularly to FIG. 1, a culinary article 10 is partially illustrated With a flange 12 which may serve as a handle or gripping portion for the article. Any articles in the nature of a vessel, bowl, plattor, plate, slab, board, or the like, whether used in the kitchen or elsewhere is included within the general definition of a culinary article. The major portion of the article has been broken away as it may be of any size or shape and the particular size and shape has no hearing upon the instant invention. It will be understood that any tray, platter, bowl, dish, or vessel or utensil of any kind may be employed with the instant invention without departing from the true spirit and scope thereof, the only requirement being that the portable article have -a peripheral portion adapted to receive the removable handle to be described hereinafter,

The handle 14 is shown in FIG. 1 in positive engagement with the peripheral portion or flange 12 of the article 10. The removable handle as shown in FIG. 1 includes :a body portion 16 and a pair of plastic or generally homogeneous resilient inserts 18 and 20. The relationship between the body 16 and the inserts 18 and 20 is more clearly shown in FIG. 2. Therein it can be seen that the body portion 16 is formed with a recess 22 having a diameter and idepth adapted to receive the appropriate plastic insert 18. The cavity orl bore in the body 16 may be of a diameter slightly less than 'that of the preformed plug 18 whereby the plug is driven into the cavity -and frictionally retained therein. Conversely, other techniques of attachment may be employed as considered appropriate including the use of a cement or the use of threaded or otherwise contoured .inserts to engage a correspondingly shaped cavity. The criteria of satisfactory techniques are, of course, the positive retention of the plastic plugs 18 and 20 within the body portion 16 and the proper resiliency to effect a positive gripping action. The body portion 16 may be finally shaped and finished as desired for the aesthetic requirements of the situation in advance, and the inserts made to conform therewith. On the other hand, the body portion 16 may be initially roughly shaped Whereafter the inserts 18 and 20 are Secured in place and final shaping of the body portion 16 and the exposed surfaces of the inserts 18 and 20 accomplished simultaneo-usly.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the shape illustrated has been employed for the handles and they have been formed of imported teakwood. Any desired handle shape or material may be employed. For example, the handle may be curved, may -be provided With tinger-receiving recesses, or may be enlarged or changed in any manner which will suit the handle to the particular requirements of the associated article. Also, the plastic inserts 18 and 20 may be any material capable of withstanding the environmental conditions to which the article will be exposed. The inserts must also have sufficient rigidity to withstand the forces applied thereto and sufficient resiliency to receive and grip the peripheral portion 12 of the article 10.

Nylon has been found well adapted to the household requirements most often encountered including resistance to soaps, detergents, grease, water, and household acids. Normally, nylon does not possess a high degree of resistance to deformation at elevated temperatures. Thus, where the removable handles are to be used with steak platters or other vessels which will be removed from the oven and immediately fitte-d with handles, other plastic materials are preferred. Polytetrafluoroethylene (Teflon) or a fiberglass filled nylon may be satisfactory for many higher temperature uses. For example, the heat distortion temperature as determined 1by ASTM Test Method D6-48 for polytetrafluoroethylene is 250 F. under a pressure of 66 p.s.i. The heat distortion temperature of fiberglass filled nylon compounds as determined by the same ASTM Test Method is in the order of 450 with an applied pressure of 264 p.s.i. Other materials having various thermal Characteristics are available, and the selection thereof will depend upon the physical requirements -of the particular use.

As shown in FIG. 2, the peripheral portion 12 of the article 10 is inserted in a preformed slot 24 in the handle w14. The slot is of substantially uniform width through both the body portion 16 and the plugs 18. The slot exceeds the lthickness of the lflange or peripheral portion 12 but is less than the total height of the peripheral portion 21'2 plus the protuberance 26 formed therein. The protuberance 26 is preferably a small diameter dimple as might be formed by a center punch or similar forming tool.

As will be seen from FIG. 2, the protuberance or dimple 26 |will engage the forward edge 28 of the plug 18 as the flange 12 is inserted in the slot 24. This will provide the user With a sensation of a first interference as the handle is positioned on the article 10. Thereafter, additional pressure must be applied to the handle to force the dimple 26 into the resilient plastic material of plug 18 so that the handle 14 may be forced toward its final position in which the outer edge 30 of the peripheral portion 12 abuts the bottom of the slot 24. It will be noted from FIG. 2 that the resilient material yields to the protuberance 2'6 and eifectively surrounds it on all sides to retain the flange 12 in position with respect to the handle 414.

As shown best in FIG. 5, the body portion 16 of the handle 14 has two small channels 32 formed above the slot 24 in order to receive and guide the protuberances 26 into position in the plugs 18 and 20. The channels 32 are not essential to the operation of the removable handles but clearly facilitate application of the handles to an article 10 and positively position the protuberances 26 in the proper area within *the slot 24 and in engagement With the plugs 18 and 20.

It will be immediately apparent that the handles, once in position, appear to be identical whether article 10 is in its normal position as shown or inverted, except for the slight channels 3'2, which may be omitted, if desired. Thus, the article may be used as a receptacle or as a cover or interchangeably as both cover and receptacle. Furthermore, it will be immediately apparent that the only distortion or alteration of the article 10 necessary to accommodate the removable handle 14 is a pair of small dimples 26 which will not significantly detract from the appearance of the article 10 when the handles are removed. Thus, the article may be used with or without the handles, contributing greater versatility and aesthetic appeal to the product. Furthermore, in many instances either a single handle or a pair of handles may selectively be employed to add still greater versatility t-o the product. Also, the plugs 18 and may be formed either of a clear or milk colored plastic or they may be executed in various colors for aesthetic purposes or for identification.

An alternate embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIG. 3 where the plugs 34 and 36 are disposed within the body portion 38 by insertion from one of the major surfaces 40 of the body portion. The principle on which the embodiment of FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 operate is identical to that already described. Cavity 42 is formed in the body portion 38 and a plug 34 or 36 is positively Secured in the cavity. The plug 36 may be made of any of the materials discussed above, and for effectiveness, this invention requires only that the plug extend substantially into the body and have the desired physical characteristics. The flange 12 is inserted into a slot 44 formed in the body 38 in the same manner as already described. Channels 426 are formed at spaced intervals on one surface of the slot 24 to receive a pair of protuberances 48.

While in the described embodiments two plugs and two protuberances are employed to provide stability with the minimum number of parts and manufacturing operations, it will be apparent that the advantages taught herein may be attained With a single plug although the device will be considerably less stable when in position and will be more readily removed. Furthermore, for large removable handles, it may be desirable to provide three or more plugs and this, too, is clearly within the scope and teaching of the instant invention.

In removing the handles of the two described embodiments from the supporting article, it is generally preferred to engage the removable handle near one end and force that end of the handle away from the article 10 so that one plug is freed from its protuberance. Thereafter, the second plug and protuberance are readily separated. It will be apparent that the plugs 34 and 36 in the embodiment of FIG. 3 will be somewhat more obvious when exposed on the top of the associated article 10. Thus, the use of colors including a natural rwood color or a bright contrasting color can be effectively used for ornamentation. It is also possible, of course, to employ the removable handle of FIG. 3 in the inverted position so that the plugs 34 and 36 are not normally visible.

Without further elaboration, the foregoing will so fully explain the character of this invention that others may, by applying current knowledge, readily a-dapt the same for use under varying conditions of service, while retaining certain features which may properly be said to constitute the essential items of novelty involved, which items are intended to be defined and secured by the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A handle for a portable article comprising a body portion formed of relatively rigid material, said body portion having a cavity formed therein, and a relatively homogeneous, resilient insert in said cavity, a slot being formed in said body portion to receive said port-able article, said slot passing through a-t least a portion of said insert.

2. A handle for a portable article comprising a body portion, said body portion having a plurtality of spaced cavities formed therein, and relatively homogeneous resilient inserts in said cavities, a slot being formed in said body portion to receive said portable article, said slot passing through at least a portion of each of said inserts.

3. A handle for a portable article comprising a body portion formed of wood material, said body portion having a plurality of spaced cavities formed therein, and relatively homogeneous resilient inserts in said cavities, a slot being formed in said body portion to receive said portable article, said slot passing through at least a portion of each of said inserts.

4. A culinary article having a removable handle comprising a body portion formed o'f wood material, said body portion having a plurality of spaced cavities formed therein, relatively homogeneous resilient insertsin said cavities, a slot being formed in said body portion to reaaeaae? ceive a peripheral portion of said culinary article, said slot passing through at least a portion of each of said inserts, and spaced protuberances formed in said peripheral portion and aligned With said inserts to resiliently engage said inserts When said handle is in place on said culinary article.

5. A culinary article having a removable handle comprising a body portion formed of wood material, said body portion having a plurality of spaced cavities formed therein, relatively homogeneous resilient inserts in said cavities, a slot being formed in said body portion to receive a peripheral portion of said culinary article, said slot passing through at least a portion of each of said inserts, spaced protuberances formed in said peripheral portion and aligned with sai-d inserts to resiliently engage said inserts when said handle is in place on said culinary article, and Channels formed in said body along one suryface of said slot to guide said protuberances into engagement with said inserts.

6. A culinary article having a removable handle comprising a generally rectilinear body portion for-med of Wood material, said body portion having a plurality of spaced generally cylindrical cavities extending inwardly from one surface thereof, relatively homogeneous reslient inserts in said cavities, a slot being formed in a second surface of said body portion to receive a peripheral portion of said culinary article, said slot passing through at least a portion of each of said inserts, spaced protu-berances formed in said peripheral portion and aligned With said inserts when said handle is in place on said culinary article, and channels formed in said body along said second surface adjacent said slot to guide said protuberances into engagement with said inserts.

7. The article of claim 6 Wherein the axes of said inserts are transverse to the plane of said slot.

8. The article of claim 6 Wherein the aXes of said inserts are generally parallel to the plane of said slot.

9. The article of claim 6 wherein the axes of said inserts are parallel to and generally coplanar with the plane of said slot-s.

10. The article of claim 6 wherein the axes of said inserts are normal to the plane of said slots.

References Cited by the Examner PATRIOK A. CLIFFORD, Primary Examiner. D. L. TROUTMAN, Assistant Examner. 

1. A HANDLE FOR A PORTABLE ARTICLES COMPRISING A BODY PORTION FORMED OF RELATIVELY RIGID MATERIAL, SAID BODY PORTION HAVING A CAVITY FORMED THEREIN, AND A RELATIVELY HOMOGENEOUS, RESILIENT INSERT IN SAID CAVITY, A SLOT BEING FORMED IN SAID BODY PORTION TO RECEIVE SAID PORTABLE ARTICLE, SAID SLOT PASSING THROUGH AT LEAST A PORTION OF SAID INSERT. 